Laundry ironing and like machine



March 29, 1932. F. DEWHURST ,8

LAUNDRY IRO NING AND LIKE MACHINE Filed Dec. 22, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Fig.1

7 w/7am?" March 29, 1932. F DEWHURST 1,851,815

LAUNDRY IRONING AND LIKE MACHINE Filed Dec. 22, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2March 29, 1932. DEWHURST 1,851,815

LAUNDRY IlONING AND LIKE MACHINE Filed Dec. 22, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 3Patented Mar. 29 1932' 1 UN TED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRANK DEWHUBSI', OIWISTWOOD WORKS, PETERBOROUGH, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOB TO BAKER PERKINS,LIMITED, 01' PETEBBOROUGH, ENGLAND V LAUNDRY IRONING AND LIKE K ACHINEApplication filed December 22, 1928, Serial No. 827,940, and in GreatBritain January 25, 1928.

' rollers in association with a steam-heated bed.

In such machines provision is made for mechanically altering thepressure of rollers and the tension of aprons, conveyors or bands orlike feeding means. Hitherto these adjust ment means have involvedsomewhat numerous manipulations and have been open to the objection thatthey oiier opportunity for 1njudicious or haphazard alteration by theoperatives or attendants, which has given use to breakages and otherdefects.

The object of the present invention is to avoid these diflicultiesand toprovide adjustment and like means adapted automatically to functionaccording to predetermined con-,

ditions calculated to afford the most efficient operation of themachine.

According to the invention the pressure afforded between rollers andtheir beds and/or the tension of apron bands and the like is maintainedand adjusted by the aid of fluid pressure adapted to afford andautomatically maintain a predetermined pressure or tension for theparts.

4 The invention also comprises mounting or associating each padded orlike roller of the ironing machine, upon or with a device (including,for example, a piston and cylinder). subjected to a fluid pressure sothat the rollers will exert a pressure corresponding with that at whichthe fluid pressure is predetermined for individual rollers. The devicemay also be adapted to afford a displacement of the rollers individuallyor collectively under the control action of the fluid pressure means,such that the rollers may be moved in and out of their operativeposition. Similarly, fluid pressure means may be adapted to applypredetermined tension to aprons, bands, ribbons, or like conveyor orfeed device.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a diagrammatic'fragmentary'vention.

side elevation of an ironing machine and ill'ustrating the applicationof the invention to the pressure rollersin association with their bed.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the arrangement according to Figure 1,

Figure 8 is asectional diagram showing an arrangement of hydrauliccylinders applied to each side of the rollers according to the in- Incarrying the invention into eifect according to one convenient mode, thetrunnions 1 on each side of the pressure rollers 2 (operating inconjunction with a steam heated bed 3) are mounted in bearing blocks 4which are adapted to slide in vertical guides of the machine (notshown). The bearing blocks are carried by connecting rods 4d which maybe suitably guided and are adjustably positioned on levers 5 for whichpurpose the levers may be provided with a series of adjustment holes 6for the reception of the pins] securing the rods 4a. Each lever 5 ispivotally mounted at 8 on a bracket. 9 ex tending from a hydrauliccylinder 10. The other ends of the levers 5 are pivotally connected topiston rods 11 working in the cylinders 10. The piston rods 11 may haveany suitable form of sealed piston 12 and the arrangementis such that onthe stroke of the piston, taking into consideration the leveradjustment, the rollers 2 may beraised from their beds to any suitableextent for inspection or repair purposes and lowered again. Eachcylinder 10 is double-acting and is provided with ports adapted tofunction alternately for inlet and exhaust and with which "pipeconnections 13, 13a communicate, re-

spectively, with common pipes or headers 14, 15 on one side of themachine, and similar pipes on the other side of the machine.

The pipes 14 are arranged to carry water of the cylinders for developingthe pressure ada ted to cause the rollers 2 to maintain a pre eterminedpressure with respect to'the bed 3 while the pipe 15 is adapted tosupply of the machine are in parallel and that the pipe line 14 of themachine has a return pipe line connection 18. In the pipe line 18 islocated a suitable adjustable relief or automatic control valve 20adapted to operate at a predetermined pressure so that a chosen pressurefor the rollers may be developed and maintained while excess waterescapes through the valve 20 to return byway of the pipe 18.

A centrifugal or other pump 21 which draws from a suitable supply tank22 is provided to discharge along a pipe line 23 to both valves 16, '17by an intermediate connection 24. A predetermined head of water ismaintained in the tank 22 by aid of the float supp y a The valve 16 isprovided with a pipe connection 26, with which the pipe 18 communicatesat 18a back to the tank 22. The valve 17 has a pipe connection 27 towaste or back to the tank 22; p

In normal operation for maintaining a predetermined pressure of therollers upon their beds, the pump 21 delivers through the pipe line. 23,valve 16, pipe lines 14 so that hydraulic pressur acts on the uppersurface of the pistons 12 on each side of the machine to draw therollers equally on each side thereof down upon their beds. Circulationtakes place through the pipes 18 and 26 back to the tank 22 and therelief or control valve 20 automatically maintains the pressure on thepistons 12 at a predetermined value according to the setting of thevalve.

When it is desired to raise the rollers 2 from their beds 3 the valve 16is operated to communicate with the pipes 14a and 26 and the valve 17 isturned to communicate with the connections 24 and 15a. In this positionpressure is applied to the lower sides of the piston 12 and the pistonsare displaced the full length of their stroke, raising the rollers fromtheir bedssimultaneously.

. It will be observed that according to the above arrangements eachpressure roller 2 is acted upon-on each side by an equal andpredetermined pressure which may be varied according to requirements byadjustment of the control valve 20.

The valves 16, 17 may be operated simultaneously for the change overfrom the position in which the predetermined pressure of the rollersupon their beds is maintained to the position in which the rollers areelevated. Having now described my invention, what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In combination a plurality ofbearings supporting members adapted to rotate in said bearings, alurality of hydraulic cylinders, one for each caring, pistons in saidcylinders,

connections between the pistons and the bearings, and means included insaid connections for varying the pressure on the bearing inde endentlyof t e fluid pressure in the cylm er.

2. In combination a plurality of bearings supporting members adapted torotate therein, a lurality of hydraulic cylinders, one for each caring,a pressure fluid conduit common to said cylinder a relief valve in saidconduit, pistons in said cylinders, connec tions between the pistons andthe associated bearings, means included in said connections for varyingthe pressure on the bearing independently of the fluid pressure in thecylin- 3. In combination, a plurality'of bearings supporting membersadapted to rotate therein, a plurality of hydraulic cylinders, one foreachbearing, pistons in said cylinders, levers connected to saidpistons, fulcrums for said levers, coupling rods connecting the leversto the respective bearings and means for adjusting the relative lengthsof the arms of the lever whereby the pressure on the respective bearingmay be varied independently of the fluid pressure in the c linder.

4. In combination, a p urality of bearings supporting members adapted torotate therein, a plurality of hydraulic cylinders, one for eachbearing, a pressure fluid conduit common to said cylinders, a reliefvalve in said conduit, pistons in said 0 linders, levers connected tosaid pistons, ulcrums for levers, coupling rods connecting the levers tothe respective bearings, the connections to the levers bein adjustableto vary the relative lengths o the arms of the levers whereby thepressure on the respective bearing may be varied independently of thefluid pressure in the cylinder.

5. In combination, a plurality of bearings supporting members adapted torotate therein, a plurality of hydraulic cylinders, one for eachbearing, a' pressure fluid conduit common tosaid cylinders, .a reliefvalve in-said conduit, pistons in said cylinders, levers connected tosaid istons and fulcrumed in brackets on said cy inders, coupling rodsconnecting the bearings to the levers at a point between the fulcrum andthe connection to the piston, and means for adjusting the distance ofthe point of connection of the coupling rod to the levers and saidfulcrum, whereby the pressure on the respective hearing may be variedindependently of the fluid pressure in the cylinde 6. In combination apair of bearin supporting a member adapted to rotate t erein,

a pair of hydraulic cylinders, one for each bearing, a pressure fluidconduit common to said cylinders, a relief valve in said conduit,pistons in said cylinder, levers connected to said pistons, fulcrums forthe levers, coupling rods connecting the bearings to the respectivelevers, and means for adjusting the relative lengths of the arms of eachlever whereby the pressure on the bearings may be varied independentlyof the fluid pressure in the respective cylinders.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

FRANK DEWHURST.

